Hunger in Nigeria weaponised, politicised – Defence College provost

The Provost of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, Professor Adam Okene Ahmed Abere, has said that despite hunger being part of humanity in all epochs, the current Nigeria’s experience is weaponised and politicised.

Abere said this on Sunday in Abuja at the 21st  annual national unity Ramadan lecture organised by the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society with the theme, ‘Ramadhan: Coping with the Current Challenges’.

Represented by Dr Ismail Zakari, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Research and Strategies, NDC, Abere noted that the world is literally in turmoil.

He also said that Nigeria, despite being the giant of Africa, is facing toxic challenges that manifest themselves in kidnapping, banditry, unprovoked massive killings, terrorism, insurgencies, piracy, and human trafficking.

“The continent of Africa is almost a failure when one considers banditry and terrorism in the Sahel region that is trying to swallow the nations of Africa. Famine, drought, scarcity of food, coup d’états, leadership failures were noticeable in most African countries. Hunger is part of humanity in all epochs, but the current Nigeria’s variant is weaponised and politicised,” Abere said.

Speaking earlier, the National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Sheik Fuad Adeyemi, urged financial assistance for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.

He said that the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to raise the sum of N1bn between now and June for the IDPs in the country.

He expressed optimism that from all indications, in the next two months, the funds will be realised.

Also speaking on ‘Waqf: Combating Poverty’, the Jaiz Bank Sharia Compliance Officer, Imam Abdulrahman Alalubosa, noted the importance of charity in Islamic perspective and encouraged wealthy Nigerians to prioritise alms giving.